Fiery Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has reportedly ‘accommodated’ bandits by building a school for them at Kagarko Grazing Reserve near Kohoto village in Kaduna State.
The school, named Sheikh Uthman Bin Fodio Centre, reportedly contains six classrooms that could be used for primary and secondary schools.
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Speaking to reporters, on Monday, Sheik Gumi said he decided to establish the school for the bandits in order to educate them and help solve their violent ideologies.
Sheik Gumi stated that the Federal Government could solve the issue of banditry in the North West by providing education opportunities and other basic amenities for the bandits.
The cleric added that the school was built in the bandits’ remote location to show the sincerity of the initiative and to persuade them to lay down their weapons.
His words, “If the centre which is designed to educate the herdsmen is replicated everywhere in the Country, Nigerians will live in peace.
“Instead of spending billions on military hardware to fight the bandits, Nigeria should spend such money on schools and teachers.
“I have spoken with the bandits and they have expressed willingness to drop their arms and embrace peace if their children can be given education and other social amenities.”
Sheik Gumi maintained that what motivated him to start this project was to solve the insecurity problem being faced from the roots.
He believed that if the bandits were educated, they would not be doing what they are doing.